//------------------------------//
// Side Story - Susanne 
// Story: School Days 
// by Dai Kirai 
//------------------------------//

	“You have to be kidding.” Edward responded, corners of his lips upturned.
“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Sue motioned to a blank stare.
“Where did you get that from?”
Suzanne rubbed the back of her head. “A friend?” Kat, she heard it on some sort of interview years ago. Sue remembered the first instance of it being used and having a similar reaction. But it’s now an in joke. “But yeah, Equestria has some really advanced thermodynamics, like more advanced than we have.”
Off in the distance, not so far where she couldn’t hear the basics though; Stormy and Kat were talking and she didn’t like where it was going. 
“Once they could figure out the symbols and some unique methods…” Sue looked to the group, to Kat’s rapid signing.
“It is not that surprising. There is speculation that there may be a common…”
No way in hell. Suzanne stormed up to her friend. Sorry, Edward. As fun as it is talking to you, this takes priority. 
She moved around to the side, making sure to place herself in Kat’s peripheral vision and waved to signal her want to talk. 
Kat turned, hands a blur of motion. 
Sue may have learned American Sign Language well enough but it was Kat’s mother tongue, being born to deaf parents. 
‘Slow down!’ Sue signed. ‘You know I can’t go that fast.’
‘I can’t, it’s happening again.’ Kat’s eyes watered. Many would have assumed she was angry, but only partially. ‘Every time! I am NOT broken. Why?’
What do I say to that? Back home everyone knew, but going someplace different is always hard? She’s like a sister and I can barely imagine what she’s feeling. Every time some idiot has to open their mouths. 
Kat walked off, the last time that had happened was freshman year of high school. 
Sue heard a pounding in her ears, her throat dried as she fumed. “You said WHAT!? What kind of insensitive…” A hand landed on her back with enough force to sting. She looked back at who would dare… 
Edward? His features were completely smooth; Suzanne had forgotten anyone other than her and the idiot pony were there. She could see her rage against his calm. There was a gentle squeeze from the hand. She took a slow breath, letting her ire soothe and simmer. “I’m gonna go talk to her.”
“No. He created this problem and it should be his job to fix it.” He turned from her to the pony. “If he doesn’t though…” Letting the sentence trail off. 
Stormy moved off, staggering as he moved.
“If he says anything to hurt her.” 
“They both need to learn.” Edward moved off to a metal table, pulling out two chairs. “Life isn’t easy.”
Says Mr. Rich. Sue fumed, sitting gently into her chair, holding up the sides of her shirt as she did. I need to protect her.
Edward started speaking and Sue heard none of it, thoughts racing of her friend.

First Grade
Suzanne saw the new girl brought in with her frilly pink dress. It was the girliest thing she had ever seen, and the only one in the small class wearing such colors. 
“Ok, everyone. I would like to introduce you to Katherine. She will be joining us.” Mrs. Clarkson said. “Now she can’t hear like you do so remember to be nice. Now sweetie if you can take a seat over there please.”
This should be fun!
The new student sat near another adult who she rarely looked at as the lessons continued. 
Soon enough, it was time for recess. Sue shoved the books into her desk and waited for everyone else to get up before making her move. As the other kids made for the door, Sue ran forward, making sure to run into the back of the new student and then making her way outside.
She continued it for the next week. Sometimes it would be a ball from behind or just some words she learned from adults. Until one day Kat never went outside for recess and stayed inside with books. 

Second Grade
“Watch this!” Sue yelled at the swing went straight with the ground. A few more leg pumps and the seat rose. The next time it reached the top, she jumped. The feeling of flying was awesome to the first grader, then she landed and pain shot through her leg. The pain blasted out all other shots as hot tears rolled down her cheeks. The teacher checking her out and the ambulance ride were all a blur. 

A week later Suzanne came back to class in a cast and a wheelchair. The teacher made her a special desk to fit over her chair, sitting her far away from the other students and their desks. 
Recess eventually came and she wheeled to recess. Getting outside though she saw nothing that could be done sitting in a chair. She could feel more tears form in her eyes.
“Crybaby.” Someone called from behind her, Sue couldn’t turn around to see who it was. 
“Here.” A voice said from behind as a book landed on Sue’s lap. The voice sounded funny, like it was someone who never spoke. The book was from some series called ‘Goosebumps’.
Kat walked around to her side and sat on the ground, making sure her pink dress didn’t get dirty.
Suzanne looked down at this little blonde thing, the one she had picked on. “Why are you being nice to me?”
Kat nodded her head and pointed to her ear before pulling out a pad of paper and passing it to Sue.
‘Why are you being nice to me?’ She scrawled with large uneven letters before passing it to the odd girl.
‘Why not?’ Kat shrugged before passing it back.
I don’t even like reading.

Freshman Year of High School
Sue entered the classroom for Algebra. At the front, just as expected, sat Katherine in her favorite sundress, white with pink borders, a gift. 
Sue hung her head. Guess it’s the front of the class this year. She sat at the desk to her friend’s left. She hated her new jeans, but thought they made her look better. 
‘Do you always have to sit in the front?’
Kat grinned wider than a Cheshire cat. ‘Only if you can’t be in class on time.’
‘It was five minutes and history. Pretty sure learning things I wasn’t there for is the point of that class.’
“Haha.” A crackling voice, one that had just started to change spoke behind Sue. “I’d rather talk to a can of beans. I mean if you can’t speak English it’s the same thing.”
Sue’s ears perked. I hope Kat didn’t see that.
Kat taped on Sue’s shoulder, pointing to the front of the class as an elderly man walked in. His hair was grey and fell in very loose curls, like he never bothered to fully comb it and wore some strange purple patterned button down. 

‘I will catch up with you in a little bit. Need to talk to Mr. May.’ Sue signed when class let out.
‘OK.’ Kat moved off as her friend waited outside the building, heading for her next class.
“Hey.” She waved and the young male who just exited the room. Dark black hair, a plain white shirt and stained jeans. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Of course.” Giving what he thought was a sly grin.
“Please do not insult the deaf in my presence.” Sue suggested. You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
“It’s not my fault she’s as dumb as a brick.”
“Listen here. She is a better person than you could ever hope to be and smarter than you can imagine.” Sue moved until she stood nose to nose with the taller boy, stabbing a finger into his chest. “If I hear you speak against my friend again I will make sure your voice doesn’t finish changing.”
“Make me.” He grinned, an expression that quickly changed into a grimace as her knee came up.